Supporting and operating means for doors



Oct. 4, 1932. G. B. AYERS 1,881,014

SUPPORTING AND OPERATING MEANS FOR DOORS Filed May 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mn W ' n1 unuvh s-qll um I His (1 Oct. 4, 1932. AYERS 1,881,014

SUPPORTING AND OPERATING MEANS FOR DOORS Filed May 27. 1931 Sheets-Sheet -2 L (06y. *||-'n'( ml in,

Gerald B. R9213 I Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GERALD B. AYERS, OF JAMES'IOWN, N EW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 IDAHLSTROM METALLIC DOOR COMPANY, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK SUPPORTING AND OPERATING MEANS IOR DOORS Application filed May 27, 1931.

This invention relates to an improvement in door supporting and operatlng means and more particularly to such means appl ed to a sliding door.

The present trend in building entrance en; closures is to eliminate all additional structure beyond the open limits of the door or doors as well as to reduce the entire enclosure height. Inasmuch as the door has come through these changes with little or no alteration in size, it is evident that problems must be met which were not heretofore considered, namely, the provision and location of a door operator readily adaptable for use in the pres--.

ent type enclosure.

The present invention is, therefore, pnmarily directed to the provision of an enclosure in which the door operator or motor is directly connected with the door, thus eliminating the use of pendent plates or hangers. The motor, as shown in the drawings, comprises a field structure and an armature. The field structure is preferably attached to the enclosure, being tted with a suitable track. The armature serves as a pendent plate or door hanger being formed with suitable centrally located top and bottom flanges, the bottom flange being joined to the door and the top flange fitted with suitable rollers by which to operably mount the armature upon a track located on either the enclosure or field structure. By reason of this arrangement, the space between the top of the door and the top of the enclosure need only be slightly greater than the height of the motor. It is therefore evident that a motor of this type is most adaptable with the newer which is interposedsuitable antifriction means.

Serial No. 540,887.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more clearly understood from a con sideration of the following specification which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of one modification of the invention mounted on an entrance enclosure structure and adapted to actuate a sliding door;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspectiveview of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of a slight modification of this invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 4-; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 2, one modification of this motor is shown mounted on an entrance enclosure header which is enerally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The vertical wall 11 of the header terminates along its lower edge in a horizontal flange or lintel 12 and along its upper edge in a reversely disposed flange 13. Integral with the flange 13 and projecting vertically upward therefrom is a further flange 14, the plane of which defines the lateral limit to which the motor is confined.

Secured to the wall 11, of the header 10, is a field structure 16 which comprises a stack of stamped laminations forming a core 17 and a plurality of coils 18 mounted in said core. A back plate 19, having a short horizontal flange 21 along the bottom edge which terminates in a downwardly extending portion 22, serves to retain the laminations of the core 17 in a group. The ends of the back late 19 project slightly beyond the ends 0 the core 17 to accommodate screws 23 which secure the field structure 16 to the header 10. A track 24, extending the full length of the header, is mounted on the wall 11 directly above the field structure 16 by means of brackets 26 and screws 27. This track provides a means of support for an armature, the details of which will be hereinafter described. A substantially channel shaped pendent of the channel projecting downwardl ment such as a door.

plate 28, having side walls 29 and connecting a base wall 32, is provided w1th an outwardly projecting flange 33 termmatlng the wall 29. Integral with the wall 31 and projecting at right angles thereto is a further wall 34 which terminates in a return flange 36. Mounted on the flange 33 by screws 37 are rollers 38 which engage the track 24 and support the pendent plate. Pivotally secured to the wall 34, by a screw 39, is a bracket 41 which on its free end supports a locking roller 42. This locking roller is adjustable into or out of engagement with the portion 22 by means of an ad ust ng screw 43. The roller 42 serves as a guide for the lower portion of the pendent plate and prevents any part of said pendent plate from coming into contact with the field structure.

An armature 44, formed integral with or as shown in the drawings, mounted on the inside of the wall 32 in any convenient man.- ner as by welding or riveting, is held in close proximity with one face of the core 17 and is constrained to move longitudinally of said core.

To illustrate one purpose for which this device may be used, the invention has been applied to the operation of a sliding door as shown in the drawings. Suspended from the flange 36 of the pendent plate 28, by screws 46, is a door 47 which moves with the armature from one osition to another.

Another mo ification of this invention is represented in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings wherein the field structure comprises a pair of spaced core elements each mounted on a back plate. A channel shaped track is interposed between and secured to the upper portion of the two plates with the open siile n armature, to which is attached anti riction rollers, is suspended in the space between the core elements. The lower edge of the armature terminates in a horizontal flange which is adapted to be connected to a movable ele- Connected to the lower edge of the armature is a track or guide which engages a roller mounted on one of the back plates. This guide provides lateral support for the armature.

Since this modification is also shown mounted on an entrance enclosure structure, the common elements bear the same reference numerals as indicated in the foregoing modification. The field structure 51 is comprised of a pair of reversely disposed core elements 52, with one of said elements mounted on a back late 53 and the other on a back plate 54.

The ack plate 54 is somewhat longer than the plate 53 and projects slightly beyond each end of the core elements 52 to accommodate screws 56 which secure the field structure to the wall 11 of the header 10. Coils 57, similar to coils 18 in the previous modification,

are mounted in each of the core elements 52. A channel track 58, the base wall 59 of which is secured to the flange 13 of the-header, enga es and spacedly su ports lates 58 and 54 t rough its side wali; 61 Eonver ing flanges 62, integral with the side wa s 61, terminate in ad acent upwardly extending tracks 63.

Projecting through the space between the core elements is a combined door supporting pendant plate and motor armature 64 which is provided with rollers 66 mounted (in the top edge by means of screws 67. The

rollers are equipped with outer flanges 68 which prevent them from slipping off the track, The bottom edge of the armature termnates in any convenient manner as by a flange 69. Screws 71 project through the flange 69, being engaged with and supporting a door 2. Rollers 66 engage tracks 63 providing a movable support for the armature and the il cit )1- .iietured to the armature, preferably adjacent the flange 69., is a further track 73 with which a roller 74, mounted on the plate 54 b screw 76, contacts.

The traclr Y3 and rol era 74, prevent lateral movement of the armature and the resultant scraping against the faces of the core elements, thus reducing unnecessary wear and objectionable noise to a minimum.

While applicant has shown and described but two modifications of his invention, he does not intend to be limited thereto since it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other modifications or adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In an entrance enclosure structure having a door, a rectilinear motor for operating said door, the field structure of said motor being fastened to said enclosure, a track, a pendant plate, and antifriction means interposed between said track and said endant plate, said pendant plate constituting the armature or movable element of said motor.

2. In an entrance enclosure structure, a rectilinear induction motor for operating a sliding door comprising a stationary field structure and movable armature, means directly joining said armature with said door, a tree joined to said enclosure structure, said field structure bein located directly beneath said track, anti riction means interposed between said armature and said track, said armature projecting downwardly through said field structure for supporting said door.

3. In an entrance enclosure structure having a door, a self contained door supporting and operating unit comprising a header, 9. track on said header, a pendant plate engaged with and supporting said door, antifriction means supporting said pendant plate on said track, and electric motor field structure on said header, said field structure including spaced elements defining a vertical longitudinally extending opening through which said pendant plate projects, said pendant plate constituting the armature or movable element of said motor.

4. In an entrance enclosure having a door, an electric motor for operating said door, the field structure of said motor being fastened to said enclosure, a track mounted pendant plate for supporting said door, said pendant plate projecting through said field structure and constituting the armature or movable element of said motor.

5. In an entrance enclosure having a door, an electric motor for operating said door, the field structure of said motor being fastened to said enclosure structure, a track mounted pendant plate supporting said door, said pendant plate being electromagnetically associated with said field structure and constituting the armature or movable element of said motor.

6. In an entrance enclosure structure having a door, a self-contained door supporting and operating unit comprising a header, a channel member attached to said header, a track in said channel member, a pendant plate, anti-friction means supporting said pendant plate on said track, said door being suspended from said pendant plate, an electic motor field structure on said header beneath said channel member, said field structure including spaced elements defining a vertical longitudinally extending opening through which said pendant plate projects, said pendant plate constituting the armature or movable element of said motor.

7. In a self-contained door supporting and operating unit, a channel member, a track in said channel member, a stationary electric motor field structure beneath said channel member, a door supporting pendant plate projecting upwardly through said field structure into said channel member and anti-friction means supporting said pendant plate on said track, said pendant plate constituting the armature or movable element of the motor.

8. In an entrance enclosure structure, a self-contained door supporting and operating unit comprising a header, a channel member fastened to said header, flanges forming spaced inwardly directed rails in said channel member, an electric motor having a field structure fastened to said header beneath said channel member, said field structure including spaced elements defining a longitudinally extending opening, said field structure opening being centered withthe opening in said channel member, a. door .sup orting pendant plate projecting upwardly t rough said field structure opening into said channel member and anti-friction means supporting said pendant plate on said tracks, said pendant plate constituting the armature or movable element of said motor.

9. In an entrance enclosure structure having a door, a self-contained supporting and operating unit comprising a header, a downwardly opening channel member fastened to said header, tracks formed in said channel member, an electric motor for operating said door, said motor including a field structure fastened to said header, a door supporting pendant plate electro-magnetically associated with said field structure and projecting upwardly into said channel member, said pendant plate constituting the armature or movable element of said motor, anti-friction means supporting said pendant plate on said tracks and further means preventing disengagement of said anti-friction means from said track.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GERALD B. AYERS.

III 

